22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is athe Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is bChrist’s slave.
23aYou were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24 Brethren, let each one remain with aGod in that state in which he was called.
To the Unmarried and Widows
25 Now concerning virgins: aI have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one bwhom the Lord in His mercy has made ctrustworthy.
26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—athat itis good for a man to remain as he is:
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.
29 But athis I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,
30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,
31 and those who use this world as not amisusing it. For bthe form of this world is passing away.
32 But I want you to be without1 care. aHe who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord.
33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife.
34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman acares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.
35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his1 virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry.
37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his1 virgin, does well.
38aSo then he who gives1her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.
39aA wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, bonly in the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, aaccording to my judgment—and bI think I also have the Spirit of God.
Verse 24, as a summary of the whole paragraph, states a general, overall principle: We should be content with where God has placed us. God wants us to be content with the circumstances of our lives, for God Himself seems to be satisfied with them for the time being. What really matters is not what position we have, not how highly regarded we are, not how much authority we have, or whatever—but it is keeping the commandments that matters. If we are in a position, and we keep God's commandments, then it is likely that God Himself will change our circumstances for the better. He will find a way to promote us in time.
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